M A I N   N E W S

Siddiqui to be next police chief
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20
Punjab will have three more Directors-General of Police (DGPs), one Additional DGP (ADGP) and three Inspectors-General (IGs) as the state government ordered the much-awaited reshuffle in the Police Department, naming formally Mr A.A. Siddiqui as the next police chief.

The top-heavy Police Department will on August 1 have five officers of the rank of DGP, 14 ADGPs and 20 IGPs.

The government also named its seniormost police officer, Mr Sarabjit Singh, who had reported back for posting in March this year after a year-long leave, as the new Director-General of Police-cum-Commandant-General, Punjab Home Guards and Director, Civil Defence.

Those promoted as DGPs are Mr S.K. Verma, Mr A.P. Bhatnagar and Mr A.A. Siddiqui — all from the 1968 batch. Their promotions will be effective from August 1, after the present DGP, Mr M.S. Bhullar, retires on superannuation on July 31. Mr Anil Kaushik (1975 batch) has been promoted as an Additional Director-General of Police while Mr Mohammad Mustafa, Mr Ravinder Paul Singh and Mr Hardip Singh Dhillon (all from the 1985 batch) have been promoted as Inspectors-General.

The government also made a deviation by naming Mr Jarnail Singh Chahal, the second seniormost police officer of the state, as the Chairman of the Punjab Police Housing Corporation. Earlier, the position of Chairman of the Housing Corporation was held by the state DGP. Mr Chahal was earlier Chairman of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation.

Mr S.K. Verma, who is at present posted as Additional Director-General, Punjab State Human Rights Commission, will continue in that position and his post will be upgraded to the rank of DGP from August 1. Similarly, Mr AP Bhatnagar, who was shifted to Prisons today, would also hold the elevated post of DGP, Prisons, from August 1.

Mr R.S. Chalia now takes the position of ADGP, Internal Vigilance Cell, after Mr Bakshi Ram took voluntary retirement on his appointment as a member of the Punjab Public Service Commission last month.

Mr Anil Kaushik, on elevation as an ADGP, goes to the Lokpal.

Mr D.R. Bhatti, who was used as a “peacemaker” at Talhan by the state government, has been rewarded with a posting at the PAP, Jalandhar, as the new PAP chief. He swaps places with Mr Rajdeep Singh Gill, who has been known for his organisational capacities as a sports organiser and promoter.

Mr Bhatti will be joined at the PAP, Jalandhar, by Mr Chander Shekhar as an Inspector-General.

Mr J.P. Virdi’s position as the Inspector-General (Zonel-II), has been confirmed as his predecessor, Mr S.K. Sharma has been shifted as the IG, Border Range.

Mr Jyoti Trehan, who has done some research work on money-laundering as a scholar, now becomes the Inspector-General of Police, Operations-II. His place at the PAP (Training), Jalandhar, will be taken by Mr Rajan Gupta.

Mr G.D. Pandey has been named as the IGP (Crime).

Mr Mohammad Mustafa, on promotion, goes as the IG, Government Railway Police, Patiala, while Mr Ravinder Paul Singh, on elevation, goes back to the Intelligence Wing as the IG.

Mr Hardeep Singh Dhillon has been, on promotion, named the IG Commandos, Chandigarh.

Mr S. Chattopadhyaya, has been given the coveted Ludhiana range while Mr CSR Reddy moves out from the Chief Ministers security to the Faridkot Range as a DIG. Mr R.P. Meena goes to Intelligence as a DIG.

Mr Rohit Chaudhay, who was shifted from the Jalandhar range as a fallout of the Talhan episode, has been posted as the DIG (Administration).

Mr Sanjiv Kalra moves to the Chief Minister’s security as a DIG while Mr Hardish Singh Randhawa goes as the DIG, Ferozepure Range. Mr Paramjit Singh Sarao becomes the DIG (Wireless and Computers) while Mr Paramjit Singh Gill becomes the DIG, Intelligence.

Mr Naunihal Singh has been posted as SP (Vigilance), Ludhiana.

The Ludhiana SSP, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, has been given additional charge as the SSP, Khanna, while fresh posting order of Mr Kanwaljit Singh, SP, (Vigilance), Ludhiana, will be issued separately.